Box Score
LANCASTER, Pa. – Franklin & Marshall scored three runs each in the seventh and eighth innings to break a 2-2 tie and went on to defeat Gettysburg 8-3 in Centennial Conference (CC) action on Friday afternoon at Kaplan Field. The Diplomats complete the season sweep of the Bullets after winning Tuesday's game at Gettysburg, 6-5.
Franklin & Marshall (15-7, 5-1 CC) sophomore second baseman Rob Stern went 3-for-5 with an RBI, and senior center fielder Eric Milsavsky, sophomore first baseman Patrick O'Reilly and senior catcher Stephen Frederick each collected two hits. Milsavsky scored twice and drove in two runs, and O'Reilly also collected a pair of RBI.
For the Bullets (10-15, 2-4 CC), junior center fielder Ben Carey (Colchester, CT/St. Bernard) went 2-for-3 and scored twice, while junior first baseman Joe Bonyai (Torrington, CT/Hotchkiss School) was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
The Diplomats got on the board first with two in the bottom of the third. Milsavsky doubled to right field scoring sophomore shortstop Tom Miller, and O'Reilly legged out an infield single that plated Milsavsky.
Gettysburg got one back in the top of the fourth when senior catcher Brendan McDonald (Bennington, VT/Mt. Anthony Union) singled to left, scoring Carey. The visitors then tied it up two innings later when sophomore second baseman Dave Olson (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) led off with a triple to left center and scored two batters later on Bonyai's single to left.
Franklin & Marshall got the game-winning rally in the bottom of the seventh, scoring three times to break the tie. Frederick reached on an infield single to start the inning. Miller reached on a sacrifice bunt by beating the throw to first, and Milsavsky moved the runners to second and third with a sacrifice. Freshman pitcher Christian Force (Shippensburg, PA/Berwick) replaced senior Brian Spicer (Haddonfield, NJ/Haddonfield) and struck out the next hitter, but Kruger reached on a two-base error that scored Miller and Frederick. The Diplomats would add one more in the seventh and three in the eighth to seal the victory despite doubles by Carey and junior designated hitter Brian Pernice (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown) that plated a run for the Bullets in the top of the eighth.
Spicer (3-1) was charged with his first loss of the season despite allowing just two earned runs over 6 1/3 innings. He struck out five and walked two while scattering eight hits. Franklin & Marshall freshman Matthew Metsch (5-0) went 7 2/3 innings to pick up his fifth win in five decisions. Metsch allowed three runs, two of which were earned, on eight hits and struck out four while walking one.
Gettysburg's doubleheader with Ursinus, which was scheduled for Saturday at 12:30 p.m., has been postponed until Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
| Score by Inning |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
- |
R |
H |
E |
| Gettysburg (10-15, 2-4 CC) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
- |
3 |
8 |
2 |
| Franklin & Marshall (14-7, 5-1 CC) |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
x |
- |
8 |
13 |
1 |
Brian Spicer, Christian Force (7), Brian Koch (8), Brian Pernice (8) and Brendan McDonald; Matthew Metsch, Matt Kelos (8), Dan Tischler (9) and Stephen Frederick. WP: Metsch (5-0). LP: Spicer (3-1). S: None. SO-BB: Spicer 5-2, Force 1-0, Koch 1-0, Pernice 0-0; Metsch 4-1, Kalos 0-0, Tischler 0-0. 2B: Ben Carey (G), Brian Pernice (G), Eric Milsavsky (F), Dan Hanecak (F), Stephen Frederick (F), Tom Miller (F). 3B: Dave Olson (G), Milsavsky (F), Gary Kruger (F). HR: none.
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